Hi friends! Happiest of Mondays. I hope your weekend was a good one. We had lots of sunshine and started discussing plans for summer adventures which is always exciting. We’re planning on doing plenty of in-state travel around National Parks so fingers crossed they all start opening up for adventures and overnight stays soon.
We do live in the “Natural State” and have so many gorgeous places to take advantage of that are just a quick drive away so we’re excited to turn our adventure to-do list into a reality.
Anyways, welcome back to the blog for another round up of the Weekly RUNdown and my week of workouts!
For today’s post, I’m linking up with Deborah and Kim for the Weekly Rundown! Feel free to join along and link up with us as we each recap our week of workouts around the health and wellness blogosphere. 😉
This was Week #3 of the Strava Run Arkansas Virtual Challenge and this week’s “Intermediate” workout of the week was a 5 miler which is the longest outdoor run I’ve completed in quite a while! I got in lots and lots of walking miles this week and less running but it was still a really decent week of workouts to keep me busy!
Here’s what my week of workouts looked like last week:
Monday:
We took the day to go for a leisurely stroll because my legs were pretty worn out from the run the day before, so a walk in the afternoon did the trick. The spring blooms were really beautiful and extra photogenic.
Tuesday:
Another long walk down by the river for a few miles for the day.
Wednesday:
My legs finally felt ready to tackle some running miles so I got in a double run day. First, I headed out to a nearby hilly neighborhood to log 2 solo miles.
Do you see the heart in the clouds? 😉
Then, once I got home Nick wanted to go for 2 more running miles so we headed out for sweat session #2 for the day. (For me at least!) The hills were tough on my legs as both routes had some hills thrown in so it was a good challenge for my normally hill-less legs.
Thursday:
On Thursday morning, we took the dogs on a 1 mile stroll. It felt perfect outside and was just enough to wear them out. Doesn’t take much for our senior pups.
Then, after a super busy workday we headed out for an evening walk to wrap up the day. The sunset on the neighborhood church steeples was so pretty!
Friday:
Long walk in the sunshine!
Saturday:
It was time to log my 5 miler for the week. It was rough to say the least but I got it done! With signing up for the “intermediate challenge” for this run challenge I’m doing, I’m working my way up to 8 miles in the next two weeks, so this 5 miler was the longest run I’ve done in a few months! I’ve been sticking to around 3-4 miles or so, so I was proud to mark 5 off the list. I did have some IT band and back pain but pulled through and made it work. We stopped and paused at 3.5 to consider walking the rest but I really wanted to finish the 5. So, I knew I didn’t want to hurt myself and took it easy the rest of the way but got it done! Not every run is all peaches and sunshine, so I took this one as a lesson and realized I need to do a LOT more stretching before and after than I have been.
Sunday:
REST DAY! Didn’t make it over 3500 steps for the day which was just what my body needed!
Overall, I got in plenty of walking miles this week and was pretty proud to mark 5 running miles off my list. This week I’m increasing my long run to 6 so fingers crossed I’ll stick my plan of lots of stretching and foam rolling to prepare my legs for the extra mileage. I don’t know what my deal has been lately with not stretching near as much as I should but surely one of these days I’ll make it a serious habit! Otherwise, I think my legs will start to really hate me and not ever want to run.
Questions for YOU:
What was a highlight from your week?
Do you keep track of your monthly miles? If you do, how do you do it–with an app or smart watch?
What’s one goal you have for May?
Your weather looks gorgeous! I am also enjoying lots of afternoon walks definitely helps to break the day up. Nice pace on those runs. Thanks for linking up today and have a great week
It really does! Walks are so meditative. Have a great week too, Deborah!!
It looks like your weather has just been amazing!
Great active week! Congrats on your 5 miler! I’m still working my way back from injury in August last year and the last three weeks have done 12KM as my long run (about 7.5miles) but in walk/run intervals. Your challenge sounds fun and maybe even just what you need to get your mileage up!
My highlight last week was probably getting my smartbar set from Les Mills. I’ve been doing Les Mills on Demand since December but since being at home and not being able to go to the gym I decided to use it for more than just RPM (which is the reason we started with LMOD). I was doing bodypump but with random equipment. Now I have the real deal 🙂
I have a garmin and it tracks everything for me as long as I use it.
One goal I have for May is to run 110 KM. I ran 103.5 in April, I should be able to do 6.5 more for May.
I’m so glad you’re back from your injury!! Run/Walk intervals are always a great way to build back up. I even ran a marathon doing them!
I’m definitely glad it’s helping me build a bigger base–definitely what I needed! 🙂
How exciting about your smartbar!! That sounds so awesome!! Gym equipment has definitely been hard to find around our area so I’m super jealous!!
You can totally reach that goal!! You’ve got this!
Have a great week, Renee!!
Nice job on all your workouts last week! The Run Arkansas Virtual Challenge sounds like such a great idea. I love that runners are finding so many different ways to not only stay active during this time, but finding cool ways to connect with other runners virtually.
My highlight from last week was my 5 mile walk on Saturday. It was super calming – just what I needed.
Thank you so much!! Yes–it’s been so much fun and a much needed distraction during the past few weeks, for sure!
Oh a 5 mile walk sounds glorious!!!
Have a great week ahead!!
Awesome job on the 5 miler! I’m sure you’ll crush the 8 mile run too!
A highlight for me this week was hitting 180 running miles in April! My typically monthly mileage is in the low to mid 100s range but I’ve never hit 150+ miles in one month & I’m stoked that I was able to do it.
My goal for May is to do more walking. I’ve been running more which is awesome but I love going for a nice walk for a more relaxing change of pace.
Thanks so much, Ashley!! I sure hope the 8 miler will be better than the 5, if that’s even possible! ha!
WOW–180 mile is amazing girl!!! Way to go!!
And yes–walking is soooo nice and it’s a great way for me to either unplug or catch up on some good podcasts too!
Have a great week ahead!!
Great job with your runs! I havent been doing well with stretching either. Definitely something to work on! I use a Garmin and that keeps track of my miles. I also recently joined Strava but dont check it that much.
Thank you so much, Lisa!! I don’t know what it is about stretching lately but I just have not been feeling it, although my legs are screaming at me to get it together! haha!
I just recently joined Strava and actually really like it–I follow some pro runners which is always fun to track the rockstar workouts.
Have a great week ahead!!
Such gorgeous views!
I do keep track of my monthly miles with my Garmin. It automatically handles it for me.
I hope your summer is a go. We have a cabin booked in NC and I really want to go. I understand if we can’t, but it would be so nice.
Congrats on 5! I use a bunch of apps for their different features: Garmin, Strava, and SmashRun. I also track my miles in a spreadsheet because I’m a nerd and it’s the most convenient way for me to track how many miles I have on my shoes. I don’t have a “goal” for mileage but I like knowing what the number is.
Wow, you really do have some beautiful surroundings! Fingers crossed the National Parks will be open and you will be able to get your adventures in!
I had a low-key week and wound up with a virtual 5-miler on Saturday. I’ve been doing more home workouts and less outdoor runs, but hopefully as the weather warms up and stay-at-home restrictions ease up I’ll be getting out more in the coming weeks and months.
Great week, and congrats on the 5-miler! I bet the 6-miler won’t seem that much different.I love all the walking you do. The hubs and I went on three walks on Sunday, and took our dog on all three of them. He’s 10 years old, and super active…but he was kind of mosy-ing along in the final mile (we did a total of almost 6 miles that day).